Ramadan is approaching. It’s not just a month on the calendar; it’s a city that comes to mind.
The Istanbul of my childhood…
There was always a sweet bustle at home. Who would we invite for iftar, and who would come on which day? My father’s list, my mother’s kitchen… The curtains were drawn tight; it was considered improper to eat in the street. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, don’t let the neighbors see,” it was said. “When a man craves something, he sins.” From today’s perspective, this admonition isn’t strange; on the contrary, it was a profound act of kindness. It was a lesson in considering the hunger of others.
During the Kandil holidays, we’d place a candle on a tea saucer and go door to door. We’d recite a folk verse and receive a smile in return. It wasn’t just during the Kandil nights; we’d wander the same streets at Easter and Passover too. We were like the neighborhood festival band. A few of us kids in shorts… We were different, but we didn’t stand out.
There was scarcity; there was no poverty. Because poverty isn’t about money. Poverty is the collapse of a way of life. We had few resources, but life was full. Today, people have everything; life is missing. People are lonely in crowds, silent behind screens, and unhappy in the midst of comfort.
I remember the skateboards we made from vegetable crates using old bearings. That indescribable thrill of sliding down Kurtuluş Hill on wooden steps when it snowed… Playing marbles in the street… Especially those days when I beat everyone at “sledgehammer” marbles… Today, nothing “activity program” You can't buy that kind of happiness.
I look at today’s children; they’re truly unlucky. Mostly because of their families. They’re being pushed around like racehorses. Their résumés are full, but their childhoods are empty. There’s success, but no memories. There’s winning, but no sharing.
Ramadan is coming. We should take a moment to reflect before we fast.
What have we lost? Where have we fallen short?
Perhaps the issue isn’t nostalgia for the past; it’s about remaining human.
We were really lucky, weren't we…
Honestly, we were really lucky.